Virginia is for (opera) lovers 0
Tanya to perform with the Vocal Arts & Music Festival of Virginia
June 11-29, 2012 | Blacksburg, VA
The International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) celebrates its third season in cooperation with the Vocal Arts & Music Festival at Virgnia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia, located in the heart of Southwest Virginia’s New River Valley. The festival will include masterclasses, concerts, as well as performances with string quartets and guest instrumentalists.
Scheduled events include:
Thu. 6/14 | 7:30 P.M. – MASTERCLASS WITH JOAN DORNEMANN
Joan Dornemann, an Assistant Conductor at The Metropolitan Opera and co-founder of IVAI, leads an insightful masterclass with festival singers. Squires Recital Salon, Free.
Fri. 6/15 | 7:30 P.M. – SNEAK PEEK COMPETITION
Festival patrons are treated to a preview of the great singing to come, and have a vote in this fun, high-spirited competition among many of this year’s singers. Squires Recital Salon, Free.
Sat. 6/16 | 8:00 P.M. – FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT
The opening night concert celebrates German composers and works, and features the festival singers and guest faculty musicians, including Michael Klotz, viola; Dmitry Kouzov, cello; and Peter Laul, piano. Repertoire to include a dynamic range of German Lieder and Schumann’s “Piano Quintet”. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Sun. 6/17 | 3:00 P.M. – VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS
A tapestry of music from Schubert to Verdi, Vaughan Williams to Osvaldo Golijov, this concert celebrates festival chamber musicians, including David Ehrlich, violin; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Michael Klotz, viola; Dmitry Kouzov, cello; Peter Laul, piano; Mathias Tacke, violin; and Benjamin Wyatt, cello. Featured guest singers are Blacksburg-based Ariana Wyatt, soprano, and Opera Roanoke’s Scott Williamson, tenor, singing solo works and duets. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Mon. 6/18 | 7:30 P.M. – MASTERCLASS WITH SHERRILL MILNES
Legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes coaches the next generation of opera stars, sharing wisdom and wit gained throughout his extensive career. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Tues. 6/19 | 7:30 P.M. – MASTERCLASS WITH LEON MAJOR
Internationally acclaimed stage director Leon Major brings his unique insights to the festival vocalists, as he has in master classes around the globe, from Shanghai to Tel Aviv. Squires Recital Salon, Free.
Wed. 6/20 | 8:00 P.M. – CHAMBER MUSIC CELEBRATION
Instrumentalists David Ehrlich, violin; Alex Fiterstein, clarinet; Michael Klotz, viola; Dmitry Kouzov, cello; Peter Laul, piano; Mathias Tacke, violin; and Benjamin Wyatt, cello, present a program that demonstrates both the virtuosic and the collaborative nature of chamber music, including Shostakovich’s piano quartet and C. M. von Weber’s clarinet quartet. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Thu. 6/21 | 8:00 P.M. – AN EVENING OF ITALIAN OPERA AND SONG
Music lovers of all stripes can bask in the beauty of this program, featuring some of opera’s best-loved works from Puccini, Rossini, Verdi, and perhaps a few surprise nuggets along the way. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Fri. 6/22 | 8:00 P.M. – SINGERS WITH STRINGS
David Ehrlich, violin; Michael Klotz, viola; Dmitry Kouzov, cello; Peter Laul, piano; Mathias Tacke, violin; Milana Strezeva, piano; and Benjamin Wyatt, cello, collaborate with the singers on Samuel Barber’s “Dover Beach,” Respighi’s “Il Tramonto,” and pieces by Richard Danielpour. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Sat. 6/23 | 7:00 P.M. – AN EVENING WITH RENATA SCOTTO
The evening begins with a film based on the life of Renata Scotto, followed by her master class with the festival singers. Considered one of the preeminent singers of her generation, Scotto has specialized in the bel canto repertoire, complimented with experiences in the verismo and Verdi repertoires. She performed around the world for more than 40 years, and continues to contribute to the field as a stage director and teacher. Haymarket Theatre, $20 General/$10 Student.
Sun. 6/24 | 7:00 P.M. – THREE DECEMBERS
This 90-minute, one-act opera by Jake Heggie (composer of “Dead Man Walking” and “Moby Dick”), with a libretto by Gene Scheer, is one of the most performed new operas in America. The story centers on letters from a mother to her son and daughter across the decades, illuminating the love, hope, sadness, and compassion they share as they struggle with both personal and family identity. This staged production is sung in English and performed with piano accompaniment. Contains mature themes. Conducted by Paul Nadler and staged by Candace Evans, featuring singers Aidan Ferguson, Corrie Donovan, and Logan Walsh. Haymarket Theatre, $20 General/$10 Student.
Mon. 6/25 | 7:30 P.M. – MASTERCLASS WITH DIANA SOVIERO
American opera great Diana Soviero returns to Virginia Tech and teaches young singers with the same passion that characterized her singing and acting career. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Tues. 6/26 | 8:00 P.M. – GREAT MOMENTS IN OPERA
Excerpts from the best-loved operas take center stage as the festival singers perform from masterworks across the centuries. This evening is conducted by Paul Nadler of the Metropolitan Opera. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Wed. 6/27 | 8:00 P.M. – AMERICAN MUSICAL SONGBOOK
A festival favorite, this evening features a wide range of Broadway and musical theater selections of the 20th century. This event is directed by Maria Zouves. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Thurs. 6/28 | 8:00 P.M. – THE MENDELSSOHN QUINTETS
Festival guest artists and string faculty Shmuel Ashkenasi, Mathias Tacke, and David Ehrlich on violin; Beth Guterman and Michael Klotz on viola; and Marc Johnson on cello, perform Felix Mendelssohn’s two string quintets, “No. 1 in A major, Opus 18” and “No. 2 in B-flat major, Opus 87.” These magnificent works, rarely performed together, demonstrate the elegance of one of the first of the great 19th century Romantic composers. Squires Recital Salon, $20 General/$10 Student.
Fri. 6/29 | 8:00 P.M. – GRAND FINALE: RUSSIAN-FRENCH CONNECTIONS
The 2012 festival closes in grand style with a focus on international artistry from the perspective of both French and Russian composers, those who influenced one another across boundaries of place and nationality. This fascinating program draws on music from Borodin, Debussy, Fauré, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and others. Instrumental faculty players are Shmuel Ashkenasi, Mathias Tacke, and David Ehrlich on violin; Beth Guterman and Michael Klotz on viola; Marc Johnson on cello; and Milana Stezeva on piano. Haymarket Theatre, $20 General/$10 Student.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
